Bucs give fans a rush[Times photo: Joseph Garnett Jr.]In easily the best overall effort of the preseason, Tampa Bay looks ready for season opener at New England.

Hubert MizellOffense presents a scintillating lure
TAMPA -- Warrick Dunn, granted rare running space, ducked and darted on an entertaining 48-yard trip. For a moment it was like his heroic, blistering FSU days. Oh, how the Bucs have been starving for that.

BucsGramatica regains his form
TAMPA -- He has struggled for most of the preseason, missing his first three field-goal attempts and clanging balls off the post during practice.

Vaughn being kept out of the outfield
BALTIMORE -- It has been four weeks since Greg Vaughn strained his shoulder at Kansas City. It may be a few more weeks before he can return to leftfield and stop being the Rays' designated hitter.

Rays rally, then fallBALTIMORE -- The Devil Rays had their chances to move into the lofty heights of fourth place Friday night. But they kept giving the Orioles chances, and Jerry Hairston finally took advantage of two of them, leaving Tampa Bay last in the division.

Offensive innovators meet todayFootballs will fill the air tonight at Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium, with two of the game's most prolific passing teams battling in the Pigskin Classic: Florida State and Brigham Young.

OutdoorsCaptain's corner Tampa Bay has large schools of baby threadfins hugging the edges of the shipping channel. Grouper, mackerel and mangrove snapper are following the bait as they drift toward the Gulf of Mexico.

Buccaneers falter in lossNEW PORT RICHEY -- If Gulf coach Keith Newton values development more than victory in a jamboree, he went to bed happy Friday. If new Tampa Catholic coach John Diehl thinks comeback wins in poor performances breed character -- and he does -- he slept like a baby, too.

Crystal River routs Boca CiegaCRYSTAL RIVER -- Jean Gordon's plan was simple enough: Bring his Boca Ciega team north for a little offensive work, and most important, get a look at an offensive scheme the Pirates will see at least three more times this season.